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Abstract:

When a consumer makes a purchase at a POS using a payment provider, the
payment provider provides, to the merchant, a consumer identification
(ID) and an authorization number, along with the payment approval. After
receiving the information from the payment provider, the POS device sends
a generated digital or electronic receipt to an email address of the
payment provider. The email contains information about the payer and the
authorization. Upon receipt, the payment provider may upload the
electronic receipt into the consumer's mobile wallet or account using the
payer ID and authorization number. As a result, the consumer can easily
locate and access a receipt on the consumer's mobile device, such as by
accessing the user's mobile wallet or the user's payment provider account
on the mobile device, e.g., through a mobile app.

Claims:

1. A system comprising: a memory storing information about user accounts,
where the information comprises user identifiers and transaction
identifiers; and one or more hardware processors in communication with
the memory, wherein the one or more processors performs: receiving a
request for payment for the financial transaction; processing the request
for payment; transmitting a user identifier and a transaction identifier
to a merchant if the request for payment is approved; receiving an email
from the merchant comprising an electronic receipt for the transaction,
the user identifier, and the transaction identifier; and loading the
electronic receipt into a user's digital wallet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is at a POS
of the merchant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic receipt is stored in a
cloud.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein digital wallet is accessible from a
user's mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the email is received automatically
from a merchant device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the email comprises a local portion
comprising the user identifier and the transaction identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors further
performs communicating to the user or the merchant one or more value
items that can be used for the financial transaction.

8. A method of processing a financial transaction, comprising: receiving,
by a processor of a payment provider, a request for payment for the
financial transaction; processing, by the processor, the request for
payment; transmitting, electronically by the processor, a user identifier
and a transaction identifier to a merchant if the request for payment is
approved; receiving, electronically by the processor, an email comprising
an electronic receipt for the transaction, the user identifier, and the
transaction identifier; and loading the electronic receipt into a user's
digital wallet.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the financial transaction is at a POS
of the merchant.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic receipt is stored in a
cloud.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein digital wallet is accessible from a
user's mobile device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the email is received automatically
from a merchant device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the email comprises a local portion
comprising the user identifier and the transaction identifier.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating to the user
or the merchant one or more value items that can be used for the
financial transaction.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of
machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more
processors of a server are adapted to cause the server to perform a
method comprising: receiving, by a payment provider, a request for
payment for the financial transaction; processing the request for
payment; transmitting a user identifier and a transaction identifier to a
merchant if the request for payment is approved; receiving an email
comprising an electronic receipt for the transaction, the user
identifier, and the transaction identifier; and loading the electronic
receipt into a user's digital wallet.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
financial transaction is at a POS of the merchant

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
electronic receipt is stored in a cloud.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
email is received automatically from a merchant device.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
email comprises a local portion comprising the user identifier and the
transaction identifier.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
method further comprises communicating to the user or the merchant one or
more value items that can be used for the financial transaction.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Pat. Appl. Ser. No. 61/593,726, filed Feb. 1, 2012, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to financial transactions,
and in particular, to receipt delivery.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] In a typical financial transaction, a consumer makes a purchase and
receives a physical receipt. The receipt can be used for record-keeping,
tracking purchases, and/or returns or exchanges. However, physical
receipts can be cumbersome to keep and manage and can easily be lost.
Recently, digital or electronic receipts are being used more often. For
example, when a consumer makes an online purchase, an electronic receipt
is typically sent to the consumer via email. The consumer can then
organize the electronic receipt more easily, such as in an electronic
folder or mailbox.

[0006] Even with the increased use of electronic receipts, physical
receipts are still the most common form when the consumer makes a
purchase at a physical point of sale (POS). One reason for this is that
stores typically do not have a consumer's email address. Thus, if a
consumer would like an electronic receipt, the consumer must provide an
email address to the sales associate, which is time-consuming and
inconvenient.

[0007] However, even if the electronic receipt is sent, the receipt is
typically sent to the consumer's email address. This may make it
difficult for the consumer to access the receipt because the consumer may
not always have email availability and/or the consumer's email may
change, such that any older emails may no longer be accessible.

[0008] Therefore, a need exists to easily provide electronic receipts to a
consumer at a POS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009]FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process for automatically
delivering an electronic receipt at a POS according to one embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a networked system suitable for
implementing the process of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment; and

[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for
implementing one or more components in FIG. 2 according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure.

[0012] Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best
understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It
should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify
like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings
therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present
disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] According to one embodiment, when a consumer makes a purchase at a
POS using a payment provider, the payment provider provides, to the
merchant, a payer/consumer/user identification (ID) and an authorization
number, along with the payment approval. In one embodiment, the payment
provider may also send any applicable coupons, loyalty cards/points, and
offers to the merchant device. After receiving the information from the
payment provider, the PUS device sends a generated digital or electronic
receipt to an email address of the payment provider. The email contains
information about the payer and the authorization. In one embodiment,
this information is in the actual email address, such as "payer
ID-authorization numbe"@paypalwallet.com or other email host name or
domain. In another embodiment, the information is in the body or subject
line of the email, where the email is sent to a more generic email
address.

[0014] Upon receipt, the payment provider may upload the electronic
receipt into the consumer's mobile wallet or account using the payer ID
and authorization number. As a result, the consumer can easily locate and
access a receipt on the consumer's mobile device, such as by accessing
the user's mobile wallet or the user's payment provider account on the
mobile device, e.g., through a mobile app.

[0015] Thus, the consumer can quickly and easily obtain and then access a
receipt on the consumer's mobile device, without the consumer having to
provide an email address to the merchant or having to access an email to
locate the receipt.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process 100 for automatically
delivering an electronic receipt at a POS according to one embodiment. At
step 102, a user or consumer is at a merchant or seller POS ready to make
a payment for a purchase. The purchase can be for anything that involves
a payment by the user, including for physical items, food items, digital
goods, donations, charitable contributions, etc. The POS may be unmanned,
such as a self-serve kiosk, or a manned terminal with a sales associate.

[0017] When ready to make a payment, the user may select, at step 104, a
payment provider, such as PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., to make the
payment on behalf of the user. This may be accomplished by the sales
associate conveying information to the payment provider, such as by
selecting a button indicating payment using PayPal, the user selecting a
payment with PayPal button on a user mobile device or a merchant
terminal, such as a PIN pad, or other suitable means. The selection of
the payment provider may occur at different stages of the checkout
process, including before a first item is scanned, during item scanning,
or after all items have been scanned and totaled. Selection may include
the user providing user identification information, such as a user name,
a phone number, a PIN, etc., so that the payment provider can access an
account of the user with the payment provider.

[0018] Once the merchant has totaled the purchase, a payment request is
sent, at step 106, to the payment provider. The purchase request may
include information about the item(s), individual item amount, a total
payment amount, and merchant information. Note that the payment provider,
in different embodiments, may communicate coupons, loyalty cards/points,
offers, and other incentives or value items to the merchant and/or user
to apply to the current purchase transaction. In this case, the total
amount may be reduced by any applied value items.

[0019] Based on the received information, the payment provider processes
the payment request at step 108. Processing may include determining
whether a valid user account exists, accessing the account, determining
any restrictions or limitations on the account, such as maximum payment
amount, maximum transactions, etc., location associated with the account,
location of the payment request, amount of the payment request, and
determining, at step 110, whether the payment request can be approved.

[0020] If the payment request cannot be approved, the merchant and/or the
user may be notified. The user may be given the opportunity to resubmit
authentication information or may receive a call or text, requesting
additional information and/or approval. Alternatively, the user may
decide to make the payment using another source, such as a credit card,
cash, check, debit card, etc.

[0021] However, if at step 110, the payment request is approved, the
payment provider electronically communicates, at step 112, transaction
information to the merchant and/or the user. The transaction information,
in one embodiment, includes a user identifier and a transaction
authorization. The user identifier may be a numerical user TD, a user
name, a phone number, or other information identifying the user to the
payment provider. The transaction authorization may be a sequence of
letters and/or numbers that uniquely identifies the transaction to the
payment provider. The transaction information may also include a message
that the payment request has been approved.

[0022] Upon receipt of the transaction information, the merchant device
may automatically send, via email, an electronic receipt to the payment
provider, which the payment provider receives at step 114. In another
embodiment, the user may be given the option of having the receipt sent
electronically to the payment provider for processing. The receipt may be
generated any time after the payment is completed or the payment request
is approved and include information such as the date of purchase, a list
of items purchased, including any item identifiers and price, tax paid,
discounts/coupons applied, merchant information, transaction number, etc.

[0023] The email may include the user ID and transaction authorization ID.
In one embodiment, the information is contained in the email address. The
local part or user name portion of the email address may include the user
ID and the transaction ID. Examples include "user ID-transaction ID,"
"transaction ID-user ID," "userIDtransactionID," and
"transactionIDuserID." The domain name may include the payment provider,
e.g., "paypalwallet.com." Thus, in one example, assuming the user ID is
jsmith123, and the transaction ID is XcrP38, the email sent to the
payment provider may be jsmith123-XcrP38@paypalwallet.com. In another
embodiment, the user ID and/or transaction ID are included in the subject
heading and/or the body of the email. In another example, the email may
be jsmith123@paypalwallet.com, with a subject header or body referencing
transaction authorization ID XcrP38. As such, the payment provider can
easily identify that the received email is for a user's wallet, locate
the user using the user ID, and associate the receipt with the
transaction ID. Additional information may be included in the local part
as desired.

[0024] The payment provider may then store the electronic receipt, at step
116, in the user's mobile wallet or account in a cloud. The mobile wallet
may reside on the user's mobile device, such as a smart phone. The user
may access the receipt by accessing the mobile wallet, such as through a
mobile app on the device. The user may also access the receipt by logging
onto the user's account with the payment provider, either online, through
a mobile browser, or through a mobile app. Once in the account, the user
may locate and view the receipt, such as using a search function, under a
tab or link, etc. The receipt may be organized by date of purchase,
merchant, amount, etc.

[0025] As a result, the user can easily obtain and later access an
electronic receipt through the user's mobile device. The user does not
have to worry about a paper receipt, have to give the sales associate the
user's email address, or try to find the receipt in an email folder.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a networked system 200 configured to
handle a financial transaction between a payment recipient (e.g.,
merchant) and a payment sender (e.g., user or consumer) at a POS, such as
described above, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
System 200 includes a user device 210, a merchant server 240, and a
payment provider server 270 in communication over a network 260. Payment
provider server 270 may be maintained by a payment provider, such as
PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. A user 205, such as the sender or
consumer, is associated with user device 210, where the user performs a
payment transaction with merchant server 240 using payment provider
server 270.

[0027] User device 210, merchant server 240, and payment provider server
270 may each include one or more processors, memories, and other
appropriate components for executing instructions such as program code
and/or data stored on one or more computer readable mediums to implement
the various applications, data, and steps described herein. For example,
such instructions may be stored in one or more computer readable media
such as memories or data storage devices internal and/or external to
various components of system 200, and/or accessible over network 260.

[0028] Network 260 may be implemented as a single network or a combination
of multiple networks. For example, in various embodiments, network 260
may include the Internet or one or more intranets, landline networks,
wireless networks, and/or other appropriate types of networks.

[0029] User device 210 may be implemented using any appropriate hardware
and software configured for wired and/or wireless communication over
network 260. For example, in one embodiment, the user device may be
implemented as a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, personal digital
assistant (PDA), laptop computer, and/or other types of computing devices
capable of transmitting and/or receiving data, such as an iPad® from
Apple®.

[0030] User device 210 may include one or more browser applications 215
which may be used, for example, to provide a convenient interface to
permit user 205 to browse information available over network 260. For
example, in one embodiment, browser application 215 may be implemented as
a web browser configured to view information available over the Internet.
User device 210 may also include one or more toolbar applications 220
which may be used, for example, to provide client-side processing for
performing desired tasks in response to operations selected by user 205.
In one embodiment, toolbar application 220 may display a user interface
in connection with browser application 215 as described herein.

[0031] User device 210 may further include other applications 225 as may
be desired in particular embodiments to provide desired features to user
device 210. For example, other applications 225 may include security
applications for implementing client-side security features, programmatic
client applications for interfacing with appropriate application
programming interfaces (APIs) over network 260, or other types of
applications. Applications 225 may also include email, texting, voice and
IM applications that allow user 205 to send and receive emails, calls,
and texts through network 260, as well as applications that enable the
user to communicate, place orders, and make payments through the payment
provider as discussed above. User device 210 includes one or more user
identifiers 230 which may be implemented, for example, as operating
system registry entries, cookies associated with browser application 215,
identifiers associated with hardware of user device 210, or other
appropriate identifiers, such as used for payment/user/device
authentication. In one embodiment, user identifier 230 may be used by a
payment service provider to associate user 205 with a particular account
maintained by the payment provider as further described herein. A
communications application 222, with associated interfaces, enables user
device 210 to communicate within system 200.

[0032] Merchant server 240 may be in communication with a PIN pad and/or a
cash register for entry and transmission of user information, as
discussed above, both of which are not shown here. Merchant server 240
may also or alternatively be in communication with user device 210 and
payment provider server 270 to communicate information. Merchant server
240 may be maintained, for example, by a merchant or seller offering
various products and/or services in exchange for payment to be received
over network 260. Generally, merchant server 240 may be maintained by
anyone or any entity that receives money, which includes charities as
well as retailers and restaurants. Merchant server 240 includes a
database 245 identifying available products and/or services (e.g.,
collectively referred to as items) which may be made available for
viewing and purchase by user 205, including receipts associated with
identifiers, such as barcodes. Accordingly, merchant server 240 also
includes a marketplace application 250 which may be configured to serve
information over network 260 to browser 215 of user device 210. In one
embodiment, user 205 may interact with marketplace application 250
through browser applications over network 260 in order to view various
products, food items, or services identified in database 245.

[0033] Merchant server 240 also includes a checkout application 255 which
may be configured to facilitate the purchase by user 205 of goods or
services identified by marketplace application 250. Checkout application
255 may be configured to accept payment information from or on behalf of
user 205 through payment service provider server 270 over network 260.
For example, checkout application 255 may receive and process a payment
confirmation from payment service provider server 270, as well as
transmit transaction information to the payment provider and receive
information from the payment provider. Checkout application 255 may also
be configured to accept one or more different funding sources for
payment, as well as create an electronic invoice or receipt of the
transaction, which can be communicated to payment provider server 270.

[0034] Payment provider server 270 may be maintained, for example, by an
online payment service provider which may provide payment between user
205 and the operator of merchant server 240. In this regard, payment
provider server 270 includes one or more payment applications 275 which
may be configured to interact with user device 210 and/or merchant server
240 over network 260 to facilitate the purchase of goods or services by
user 205 of user device 210 at a merchant POS or site as discussed above.

[0035] Payment provider server 270 also maintains a plurality of user
accounts 280, each of which may include account information 285
associated with individual users. For example, account information 285
may include private financial information of users of devices such as
account numbers, passwords, device identifiers, user names, phone
numbers, credit card information, bank information, PINs/passwords,
coupons, discounts, incentives, loyalty points, value items, or other
financial information which may be used to facilitate online transactions
by user 205. Merchant details may also be stored within account
information 285 or another part of payment provider server 270.
Advantageously, payment application 275 may be configured to interact
with merchant server 240 on behalf of user 205 during a transaction with
checkout application 255 to track and manage purchases made by users and
which funding sources are used.

[0036] A transaction processing application 290, which may be part of
payment application 275 or separate, may be configured to receive
information from a user device and/or merchant server 240 for processing
and storage in a payment database 295. Transaction processing application
290 may include one or more applications to process information from user
205 for processing an order and payment at a merchant POS as described
herein. As such, transaction processing application 290 may store details
of an order associated with transaction between a merchant and user.
Payment application 275 may be further configured to generate a user ID
(if needed) and/or a transaction ID to transmit to the merchant for
receiving an email with an electronic receipt in return, as described
herein.

[0037] Payment database 295 may store transaction details from completed
transactions, including authorization details and/or details of the
transaction, including electronic receipts. Such information may also be
stored in a third party database accessible by the payment provider
and/or the merchant.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system 300 suitable for
implementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In
various implementations, the user device may comprise a personal
computing device (e.g., a personal computer, laptop, smart phone, PDA,
Bluetooth device, key FOB, badge, etc.) capable of communicating with the
network. The merchant and/or payment provider may utilize a network
computing device (e.g., a network server) capable of communicating with
the network. It should be appreciated that each of the devices utilized
by users, merchants, and payment providers may be implemented as computer
system 300 in a manner as follows.

[0039] Computer system 300 includes a bus 302 or other communication
mechanism for communicating information data, signals, and information
between various components of computer system 300. Components include an
input/output (I/O) component 304 that processes a user action, such as
selecting keys from a keypad/keyboard, selecting one or more buttons or
links, etc., and sends a corresponding signal to bus 302. I/O component
304 may also include an output component, such as a display 311 and a
cursor control 313 (such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). An optional
audio input/output component 305 may also be included to allow a user to
use voice for inputting information by converting audio signals. Audio
I/O component 305 may allow the user to hear audio. A transceiver or
network interface 306 transmits and receives signals between computer
system 300 and other devices, such as another user device, a merchant
server, or a payment provider server via network 360. In one embodiment,
the transmission is wireless, although other transmission mediums and
methods may also be suitable. A processor 312, which can be a
micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), or other processing
component, processes these various signals, such as for display on
computer system 300 or transmission to other devices via a communication
link 318. Processor 312 may also control transmission of information,
such as cookies or IP addresses, to other devices.

[0040] Components of computer system 300 also include a system memory
component 314 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 316 (e.g., ROM),
and/or a disk drive 317. Computer system 300 performs specific operations
by processor 312 and other components by executing one or more sequences
of instructions contained in system memory component 314. Logic may be
encoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any medium that
participates in providing instructions to processor 312 for execution.
Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to,
non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. In various
implementations, non-volatile media includes optical or magnetic disks,
volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memory component
314, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire, and
fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 302. In one embodiment,
the logic is encoded in non-transitory computer readable medium. In one
example, transmission media may take the form of acoustic or light waves,
such as those generated during radio wave, optical, and infrared data
communications.

[0041] Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example,
floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic
medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any
other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM,
FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from
which a computer is adapted to read.

[0042] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution of
instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may be performed
by computer system 300. In various other embodiments of the present
disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 300 coupled by communication
link 318 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN, and/or various
other wired or wireless networks, including telecommunications, mobile,
and cellular phone networks) may perform instruction sequences to
practice the present disclosure in coordination with one another.

[0043] Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present
disclosure may be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations
of hardware and software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware
components and/or software components set forth herein may be combined
into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both
without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where
applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components
set forth herein may be separated into sub-components comprising
software, hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated
that software components may be implemented as hardware components and
vice-versa.

[0044] Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as
program code and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readable
mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may be
implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose
computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where
applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may be
changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps
to provide features described herein.

[0045] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present
disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As
such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or
modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or
implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus
described embodiments of the present disclosure, persons of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and
detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus,
the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

Patent applications by Attaullah Mirza Baig, Austin, TX US

Patent applications in class Including point of sale terminal or electronic cash register

Patent applications in all subclasses Including point of sale terminal or electronic cash register